284 cnRojiiDKs. 



6. THERAPS. 



Body compressed, oblong, covered with ctenoid scales of moderate 

 size. Dorsal spines numerous, anal spines three or four. Teeth in 

 a band, conical. Anterior prominences of the first branchial arch 

 short horny processes. Cleft of the mouth short, Avith the upper 

 jaw 'ongest. Scales on the cheek small, in more than five series. 

 Dorsal fin not scaly. 



Guatemala. 



1. Theraps irregularis. 

 I). 1^. A. -i. L. lat. 35. L. Iransv. 4/U. 



Six series of scales on the cheek. 

 Guatemala. 



a. Six inches long. Guatemala. From Mr. 0. Salvin's Collection. 



Description of the specimen. — The height of the body equals the 

 length of tlie head, and is two-sevenths of the total (tlie caudal fin 

 not included). Head longer than high, with the snout compressed 

 and prominent ; the length of the snout is two-fifths of that of the 

 head, and nearly twice the width of the orbit. The cleft of the 

 mouth is rather small, extending backwards somewhat behind the 

 vertical from the nostril ; ui)per jaw slightly overlapping the lower ; 

 teeth in a narrow band, those of the outer series largest. Pncorbital 

 somewhat wider than the orbit, its width being equal to that of the 

 interorbital space, which is rather convex. The eye is situated 

 immediately below the upper profile, its centre being a little behind 

 the middle of the length of the head. Scales on the cheek small, in 

 six oblique series. The posterior limb of the proBoperculum is longer 

 than the inferior and descends oblicjuely forwai'ds. Scales on the 

 opercles as large; as those on the neck ; those near the base of the 

 doi'sal and on the abdomen very small. Scales ctenoid. 



The dorsal fin commences a1)ove the root of the ventral, and is 

 not scaly. The spines are of mod^jrate length and strength, the 

 lengtli of the fifteenth being two-sevenths of tliat of the head. The 

 soft ])ortion does not extend to the caudal, if laid backwards; the 

 distance between dorsal and caudal equals that of the extremity of 

 the snout from the postei'ior margin of the orbit. Caudal rounded. 

 Pectoral shorter than the head. The ventral spine is only half as 

 long as tlu; fin, and envelojx'd in skin together with the first soft 

 ray ; the fin does not extend on to tlie vent. 



lleddish-olive, marbL'd Vi it1i blackisli ; the latter colour forming 

 seven rather irregular transverse bands, some of which extend on 

 the dorsal fin. Belly silvery, marbled with blackish; opercles and 

 some scales on the body with blue dots. 



The outer branchial arch is provided witli short lioniy processes. 

 Lower ])haryng('al broader th;in \^n\^, the lateral lialves not bt'ing 

 very finidy united ; it is armed witli viUiform teeth, and with two 

 rows of stronger conical teeth ah)ng the middle. 



